Flexible Member Based Simulator

• US 20090053683A1
• Filed: 08/24/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Immersion Medical Inc (Immersion Corporation)
• Inventors: Cohen, Robert F., Brown, J. Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/844,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20090053683A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/272
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/32 with moving parts

Abstract

A simulator includes a motor and a flexible member coupled to the motor. The simulator further includes a processor that is coupled to the motor and controls the motor to vary the tension of the flexible member.

Claims

1. A simulator comprising:

a motor;

a flexible member coupled to the motor and having a tension; and

a processor coupled to the motor, the processor adapted to control the motor to vary the tension of the flexible member.

2. The simulator of claim 1, further comprising a motion sensor coupled to the processor for monitoring a motion of the flexible member, wherein the processor controls the motor based on the motion.

3. The simulator of claim 2, further comprising a display coupled to the processor for displaying an image of an object to be simulated.

4. The simulator of claim 3, wherein the processor controls the motor based on the motion relative to the image.

5. The simulator of claim 1, wherein the flexible member is in contact with a user.

6. The simulator of claim 3, wherein the object to be simulated is at least a portion of a body.

7. The simulator of claim 5, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a tissue to the user.

8. The simulator of claim 5, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a bone to the user.

9. The simulator of claim 5, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a pulsating blood vessel to the user.

23. The simulator of claim 6, wherein the tension allows the flexible member to contact a contact object when pressure is placed on the flexible member by the user.

24. The simulator of claim 23, wherein the contact object simulates a tumor.

10. The simulator of 2, further comprising a data to be simulated.

11. The simulator of claim 10, wherein the data comprises contour lines.

12. A method of simulating an object comprising:

determining a feeling of a portion of the object; and

varying a tension of a flexible member to simulate the feeling.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising monitoring a motion of the flexible member.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying an image of the object to be simulated.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the varying the tension is based on the motion relative to the image.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the object to be simulated is at least a portion of a body.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the flexible member is in contact with a user.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a tissue to the user.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a bone to the user.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the tension causes the flexible member to feel like a pulsating blood vessel to the user.

21. A user interface device comprising:

a motor;

a flexible member coupled to the motor and having a tension; and

a processor coupled to the motor, the processor adapted to control the motor to vary the tension of the flexible member.

22. A device for simulating an object comprising:

means for determining a feeling of a portion of the object; and

means for varying a tension of a flexible member to simulate the feeling.